Fall board



May 28, 1929. T, F, H E 1,715,280

FALL BOARD Fiied July 15, 1923 IN VEN TOR.

r01. BERT E [He-Eh WTORNEYI Patented May 28, 1929.

- UNITED STATES,

PATENT OFFICE.

TOLBERT I. CHEEK, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, 'IO

WELTE-MIGNON CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION 01 DELA- WARE.

FALL BOARD.

Application filed July 13,

This invention relates to musical instrunents and has particular relation to improvements in that part of the casings thereof, usually called fall boards, which are provided to protect the key-boardagainst dust and atmospheric influences, when the keys are not being operated in the playing of the instrument, and are movable to uncover the keys for operation of the latter.

The primary object of my invention is the provision of an improved fall board which will be easily operated and which will take up a minimum amount of space, will present a sightly appearance, in no wise detracting but rather enhancing the appearance of the instrument as a whole, when it is in the position in which it covers and protects the piano keys. This primary object, and others which will be apparent to those familiar with instrument case structure, including fall boards and the like, are obtained in the structure illustrated and presently described, which is characterized, in part, by the provision of a main or body part, hereinafter called fall board, of substantially flat shape, which is supported to be movable forward andrearward, within an opening formed in the front of the case of the piano or other instrument, and over the key-board of the latter, in a substantially horizontal plane, and which board has the under side of its outer portion formed with a recess to receivethe complementary member of the protectingmeans' for the key-board, hereinafter called front board, when the latter is in its raised position, thesaid front board being hinged to the fall'board into position to swing downward to close the front end of the key space when the keys are to be covered and to be swung upward underneath the fall board and into said recess when the keys are to be uncovered. Sullicient freedom of movement is, provided'for the fall board to permit a limited swinging movement of the same about its rear portion as an axis, when it is in its outer position, to enable the front board tobe swung relatively to the fall board, when the latter is in it outerposition, without requiring an undue extent of protrusion of the latter with relation to thevertical plane of the front ends of the keys. Other characteristic features of the invention haverel'ation to :the provision of an automatically operative 1923. SerialNo. 651,345.

fastening means which is wholly concealed from view and which holds the front of the board in its raised position, in the recess in the undersurface of the fall board, against accidental displacement, and to the provision of finger openings which facilitate or render convenient the manual operation of freeing the front board from said fastening means when the front board is to be lowered.

Referring to the drawing, where I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention,

Figure 1 is a fragmental cross sectional view of my invention as applied to a grand piano and showing the fall board in its outer position,

Figure 2 is a viewsimila-r to Figure 1 but showing the fall board at its inner or open position,

Figure 3 is a fragmental front view of the structure shown in Figure 1,

Figures 4: and 5 are detail cross sectional views of the fall board and front board and showing the structure at different cross sections.

10 designates a piano case, 11 the keys and 12 the fall board. At the front of the fall board is a front board 13 which is hingedly connected to the fall board 12 at 1st and is foldable into the recess 15.

At the sides of the case and to support the fall board 12 are suitable supports, as the supports 16, arranged to cause the fall board to travel in a substantially horizontal plane. The fall board is" provided with suitable bearing-surfaces ZLClJZtCQHt the supports 16 as shown at 17 in Figures -11 and 5. These bearing surfaces may be of felt or any suitablemalerial and contact with the supports 16. Due to the'soft texture of the felt, the fall board is prevented from scratching the I supports or being scratched thereby.

At the rear of the-recess, suitable fastening means are provided as shown inFigure l. A small plate 20, having a recess therein, is provided in the bottom of the front board .13. In position to register therewith and in the rear of the recess 15, is placed a .small device 21 having a spring pressed ball 22 so arranged as to press the ball outwardly and to engage the recess in the plate 20.

()116 01 more Of 1,1165% securin HIQHJHS 111R 7 be placed at any-suitable placeor places.

At one or more places in the length of the fall board, a cut away'space 23, wide enough for'several fingers to enter, is provided adjacent thereto, the front board 13 is cut away at 24120 form with the cut away space ,23, a fingerengaging pocket. When the all board is in its forward position, it may be lifted about its rear as a pivot. WVhen lifted, there is suflicientspace between the all board and keys to either fo'ld the front board under, or reach under and into the space 23 and the cut away place 24; torelease the front board to lowerthe same to the position shown in Figure. l. r p

\Vhen the front board is in the position shown in nigure 2, the ball 22 holds it in place, When the linger puns downwardly on-the front board ytheball is caused to disengage therecess in the plate 20, and the tront'board may then drop to a vertical )0- sition.

in Figure 1.

When the frontboard isin the posit-ion shown in Figure 2; the fall board maybe pushed; to the rear through the transverse slot left in the face board of the case above the key board leaving the forward portion of the keys exposed fo playing. When deiired, the forward ed e 2505 the an board -12niay be engaged l the fingers and the fall board pulled forward to cover the keys."

The front board may then be'dropped to closing position as alreadydescribed and the parts permitted toa'ssuine It Will thus .a tall board whi takesup a iminiiniiun amount of sgacdiyetis eliicien't to perform its function, simple of construction and heat in appearance. 1 I 7 Vhile [have described an embodiment of any invention in detail, I desire'to have it '7 understood that 'lido not limit myself to the exact" showing and that modifications and Having deseribed my invention what I claim is 1. A casing for a musical instrument havingia key board, the said casing including a.

said front board heinghinged to the fall 1 board adjacent the outer edge of the latter I and to be fold-(ibis thereunderto lie above the key board in one position of the fall I r'iedby lthe' gtall board'and fold'able therej aga'instethe falliboard having a depression fboard;

a i i 2. A casing tor fa musical instrument havan opening in' itsji orward positions disclosed be seen that I have provided changes inlay, be" made without departing from the spirit, of my nvention and With n V thescopeei? the appended claims.

ing a key board, the said casing including a face board having an opening ofsuch size relatively to the key board that'a transverse position of the fall board;

3. Acasing for a musical instrument have ing an opening in its forward portion and provided adjacent the opening with a fall board mounted to havemovement bodilyin a substantially horizontal plane within said fopening and capable when in its outer posi tion tobe movable piv'otally about'an axis at'its rear end aud front board hinged to the fall board adjacent the" outer edge ofthe latter and foldable thereunder.

i. A. casing for a musical instrument havprovided with a' key-board protector which portion and 'isinovable hodil in a substanti'all *horirental plane within said opening and comprises two con'iplementary parts, namelyya fall board and a front boarrhjthe'front board hingedly attachedto the tailboard and foldable thereagainst and the "fallboard having a, depression to' receive "vthe front board when the latter is folded; and afastening means for the 'front'board' when in 7 its folded position, including yi'eldable fastening element, normally protrudingfrom one of said partsand a recess in the other. part, to receive the' 'arotruding portion of said element when the two 1 part'sare relativelyjin position to b'e'iastened together.

5. A casing for a'inusiea'l instrument ha v I mg an opening in its forward-portion and provided ad ac ent the opening w th a fall board mounted to have movement bodily withinsaid opening and in a substantially horizontal plane relatively thereto, a. front board hinged to the an board adjacent the .115. 5

outer ed e of the latterandvfoldable there front board and yieldable-to the latter in 12o front boardreleasably'in its folded position. V I 6. A casing for a musical instrument having an opening inits r forward'portion; a fall board g-mounted to have movement said movement and operativef to hold the" bodily in a substantially horizontal plane ithin said opening"'alnd..-afront board carwhose area with relation to that of the front board is such that the latter when folded will lie substantially within the horizontal plane of -.the corresponding surface of the fall board.

7. A casing for a musical instrument having an opening in its forward portion, a fall board mounted to have movement bodily in a substantially horizontal plane within said opening, and a front board carried by the fall board and foldable upwardly thereagainst, the fall board having a depression in its under surface to receive the front board and whose area with relation to that of the front board is such that the latter when folded will lie substantially within the horizontal plane of the corresponding surface of the fall board. 1

8. A casing for a musical instrument having an opening in its forward portion and provided with a key-board protector mounted to have movement bodily in a substantially horizontal plane within said opening, and comprising two complementary parts, namely, a fall board and a front board carried by the fall board and foldable thereagainst, the fall board having a depression to receive the front board when the latter is folded, and said protector having a finger opening adjacent confronting portions of the fall board and front board.

9. A casing for a musical instrument having an opening in its forward portion and 1 provided with a key-board protector which is movable bodily in a substantially horizontal plane within said opening and comprises two complementary parts, namely, a fall board provided in its underside with a depression and a pivoted front board carried by the fall board and foldable upwardly into said depression, the protector also having a fastening means including a spring pressed element carried by one of the parts and normally protruding from the same and yieldable to pressure imposed by engagement of the other art, the part unprovided with said element aving a recess to receive said protruding portion when the front board is in folded condition.

10. A casing for a musical instrument having an opening in its forward portion, a fall board mounted to have movement bodily within said opening and in a substantially horizontal plane and provided with a de pression in its undersurface, a pivotal front board carried by the fall board and foldable upwardly into said depression, and a yieldable fastening element in the path of swinging movement of the front board, the front board having a recess to receive the forward portion of the fastening element when the fall board is in its folded position, and said fall board and front board having confronting portions formed to provide a finger opening.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

TOLBERT F. OHEEK. 

